Actions

Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Brett Carlsen

<p>ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 13: Edwin Jackson #53 of the Indianapolis Colts leaves the field after the game against the Buffalo Bills on August 13, 2016 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Indianapolis defeats Buffalo 19-18. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)</p>

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will pay for the funerals of Edwin Jackson and Jeffrey Monroe, after they were killed in a crash involving a suspected drunk driver.

Police say Jackson, a 26-year-old linebacker with the Colts, was the passenger in an Uber when he got sick at around 4 a.m. Jackson's driver, 54-year-old Monroe pulled over in the westbound lanes of I-70 near Holt Road to help him.

Both men were outside the car when a black Ford F-150 drove into the shoulder and struck the vehicle. Jackson and Monroe were pronounced dead at the scene.

Irsay will pay for the funerals of Jackson and Monroe, a Colts spokesperson said.

Jackson played 16 games with the Colts in 2016 but spent the last year on injured reserve. He was described by former and current teammates as always having a smile and loving life.

Just learned about the passing of one of my favorite teammates.. Always happy.. always uplifting.. always humble..he was a true shining light on this earth..Such an incredibly sad day for anybody who has ever been lucky enough to be around or befriend Edwin Jackson.. RIP Ed..damn pic.twitter.com/RxKoA8OQ9j

It breaks my heart to hear the news about my brother & former teammate Edwin Jackson. He was always such a joy to be around, always smiling and always laughing. An absolutely incredible friend. RIP Ed, my thoughts & prayers are forever with you and your family 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/TpdE9GBuDE

Aww man my heart is super heavy. I just seen on my phone one of my former teammates Edwin Jackson was killed by a drunk driver. Prayers goes up to his family. This rips me apart right now. That was my dawg. God has your soul man 🙏🏾😇

Manuel Orrega-Savala, the suspected driver of the F-150, first fled the scene on foot, police say. Troopers located him on the ramp to Holt Road and stopped him, at which point he reportedly admitted he was the driver of the truck. A portable breath test administered at the scene determined Orrego-Savala’s BAC to be 0.239 percent – three times the legal limit.

He is a citizen of Guatemala, and has been deported two previous times in 2007 and 2009. Orrega-Savala has a 2005 conviction for DUI.